Percy Spencer, who died recently at the age of 92, is believed to have only set foot on a boat once when he was sent abroad during the Second World War.

Son Dennis, who lives in Jersey, said he told his dad several years ago that the island was raising £1.3 million towards a state-of-the-art lifeboat for St Helier's Royal National Lifeboat Association.

He said: "It was a passing mention and Dad never said anything more at the time. In fact, the donation came as a complete shock when I read the will, a pleasant shock but a surprise none the less.

"As far as I know, Dad only went to sea once and that was during the war when he was posted to Egypt with the Veterinary Corps. He didn't even come to see me in Jersey, as he wasn't that keen on travelling far from home."

Mr Spencer worked as a groom after the war, working his way up to head groom for builder George McAlpine in Burton Lazars before moving to a job at Holwell Works and then Petfoods.

Dennis, who has lived in St Helier for 35 years and runs a catamaran cruising business, is delighted that his dad left the money to the group.

He said: "The RNLI is a fantastic charity and if I could buy them a new lifeboat I would. I've been commercial fishing and diving in my lifetime and I've needed assistance from the lifeboat more than once. I've also lost a few friends in fishing accidents."

Mr Spencer also left £10,000 to MacMillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research.

The £1.3m needed will buy a Tamar class lifeboat to replace the 18-year-old Tyne class boat Alexander Coutanche.